Log raft and log rafting mechanism



March 7, 1939. I H F. BERG 7 2,149,491

LOG RAFT AND LOG RAFTING MECHANISM I Filed June 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Spam i r IA] J.

March 7, 1939. BERG v 2,149,497

.LOG RAFT AND LOG RAFTING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1937 2 Shee'Ls-Sheet 2 .INVENTOR 5 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITE STATES ATE J T LOG RAFT AND LOG RAFTING MECHANISM Hilmer F. Berg, Port Angeles, Wash. Application June 1, 1937, Serial No. 145,829

6 Claims. 01. 9 15 My invention relates to log rafts and log rafting mechanism.

More particularly, my invention relates to log rafts which are to be used where rough waters are ,5 encountered, such as in deep sea towing. In this type of towing, attempts have been made to use what is generally termed in the art as a flat raft, Where the logs are enclosed Within boom sticks which were secured together. This has resulted 10 not only in considerable expense, but has not proved to be a raft which would hold together in rough weather, and many booms so constructed have separated, resulting in considerable loss of logs. 15 Heretofore the art generally used the so-called Davis raft, with the logs in superposed relation, where log rafts were towed through rough waters. However, this said Davis raft is not entirely successful because of the great depth of water regg quired through which such a raft may be towed. In other words, if the raft is made up of a size which is economical, the raft will have such a draft that it will not float in shallow waters. In many sites of logging operations, the only place available to make up the raft is in shallow waters and then the raft is towed into deep waters. Obviously a raft which has a considerable draft could not even be made up in the first place in such shallow water conditions.

In the prior art practices the so-called fiat raft was extremely useful because of its shallow draft. However, the flat raft would not withstand heavy weather conditions so that its utility was very much limited thereby. On the other hand, while weather, nevertheless, the raft could not be made up in shallow waters, was an extremely expensive raft to make up, required considerable equipment to make up, and its utility was very much limited thereby.

It is an object of this invention to make up a raft of the flat raft type which may be readily made up in shallow waters, but which still may be made up with a minimum of expense and which may be towed through heavy weather conditions with absolute safety.

Heretofore in rafting, a flat raft required especially prepared and selected boom sticks to enclose the logs in the raft. These especially'prepared and selected boom sticks have been generally secured together by chains which were threaded through holes drilled in the boom sticks, such as illustrated in my earlier Patent No.

The prior practice of using especially'selected the Davis raft would withstand considerable and prepared boom sticks in flat rafts has resulted in considerable loss and expense for many reasons. Among these reasons the high initial cost of the boom sticks of a predetermined length and diameter is a substantial factor. The boom sticks for practical utility must be long and of substantially uniform diameter. Also the boom sticks were of relatively short life. Besides the costs involved, the boom sticks were not only towed to the mill when serving to form the'raft of logs, but the boom sticks must be returned to the site of the logging operations so that the same could be reused in forming further rafts of logs. In other words, the boom sticks were towed to the mill and then returned to the site of logging operations, requiring a considerable towing of a non-pay load.

In my invention I employ the ordinary timber or saw logs of the tow itself as the outside logs, or, side sticks, and end logs, or end sticks, of the g0 tow. Also I provide a temporary rafting or booming connection between these outside logs and between the same and the end logs, which does not result in substantial wastage of timber.

Prior attempts have been made to use the timber or saw logs as the side sticks of the raft and to bore holes in said side sticks to permit chains between said side sticks. The wastage of timber involved in such a practice is considerable as it is the practice to deduct a two-foot loss from the saw log whenever a hole is bored near the end thereof. Besides such loss of timber and: the value thereof, it is often impractical to bore the timber logs because of their size-some having a diameter as great as nine feet and upward. 5

It is also an object of this invention to provide mechanical equipment which may be used in the rafting and. towing of logs which is of a minimum weight, provides a raft of maximum strength and eliminates friction on the connecting means. 40 Fraction on the connecting member has made fiat rafts impractical for rough water towing. It is also an object to provide equipment which is suitable for use on logs of various diameters. It is an object to provide equipment which tends itself to use under a variety of circumstances and limits the amount of equipment which must be avail- V able.

Also a tow made up in accordance with this invention has a high degree of flexibility and 5 the raft may readily bendyclue to water conditions without undue strains and breakage.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the above objections in the prior art and to provide a rafting and boomingconnection which will permit the following drawings, the same being preferred f exemplary forms of embodiment of -my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts: 7

this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged. plan view with parts broken away showing the connection. between two outer logs. or side sticks in spaced apart end to end relation; 1

Fig.3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation. with parts broken away of the parts shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings;

Fig. 4 is anlenlarged plan view with parts broken away showing the connection between the headlog and an outside log; 7

Fig. 5 is a sectional view with parts broken away on a still larger scale taken substantially on broken lines 5--5 of Fig. 2. of the drawings;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the dog which may be used in this invention;

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the dogemploying'a thimble and choke which may be used in this invention;

Fig. 8 is a view of the blank which may be twisted to form a dog for use, in this invention;

Fig. 9 is aview in section taken substantially on broken line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig.. 10. is a plan view with parts broken away showing a raft embodying a modified. form of the invention, particularly showing a modified form of transverse .tie means between the logs of a section or brail.

In the drawings a. head log 20 is provided to which the usual towing connection 2| is secured. The towing connection is shown as broken away but extends in practice to the tug. This head 10g 25 maybe anyof the timber logs which arebeing towed' and is selected only because it has a length of substantially the desired width of the raft. The timber logs in the raft are generally designated as 22 and are enclosed in the raft by the said head log 20 and the side logsor' side sticks 23. The side'logs or side stocks 23 which are positioned on the outside of the raft are timber logs or saw logs. V j

These said logs 23 are connected together by the. connection more particularly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.a nd the side logs 23 are connected :to the head log 26, asmore particularly shown .in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. These connections will be more particularly discussed hereinafter. A raft made up in accordance with this invention may comprise many sections or brails and in the Pacific Northwest the number of sections' will average between twelve and eighteen.

Theqfirst two sectionsor brails are shown in Fig. 1, the middle sections or brails are broken away and the tail section or brail is. also shown. The timber logs 22 are positioned longitudinally of the'raft. The logs 22 Of each section are secured together by transversely positioned cables 24 and 25. The cables 24 and 25 are longitudinally spaced apart to prevent contact of the cables and wear thereby. For practical purposes this distance may be such as three feet or four feet. One manner of securing the cables 24 and 25 to the side logs 23 is to wrap the cables twice around the log 23 and secure the free end of the cable to the cable by means of a cable clamp In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, the cable 24 passes over one saw log, under the next etc. until it traverses all of the logs the same time the transverse cable 25 alternately passes under and over each saw log 22 and is Figure 1 is a plan view with parts broken away showing a log raft made up in accordance with connected between the outside logs 23 so that each log 22 has a cable 24 and 25 disposed against opposite surfaces thereof. A dog 21 such as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings is driven into the upper surfaces of each l0g 22 after the cable. 24.0r 25 has'been threaded through the cable connections carried by the dogs. In this manner each section or brail is provided with two transversely disposed cables securing together the logs of that section. V

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the outside logs 2B correspond to the outside logs 23 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The inside logs 29 correspond to the inside logs 22 shown in Fig; 1; The transverse cables 39 and 3| are connected to the outside logs 28 in any suitable manner which may be the manner described for the connectionbetween the cables 24 and 25 and the outside logs 23 in Figure 1. 'The cable 30 will pass over the first log .29, under the secondlog 29 and thence over all of the logs in a section until it reaches a saw log second from the other outside log 28 when it will pass under such log 29; thence over the log 29'adjacent the other outside log 29'and thence it is secured to said other outside log 28 in a manner similar to that previously described. Each time the cable 30 passes over a log 29, a dog 32, such as the dog shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, is employed to secure the cable 30 to the log 29.

At the same time the cable 3! is secured to one outside log. 28, passes under the first log 29, over the second log 29,.under thethird 10g 29 and thence over all of the logs in the section until it reaches'the third log 29 from theother outside log 28. where it passes under said third log 29, over the second log from the other outside log 28 under the log adjacent the other outside log 28 and is thencesecured to the other outside log 28. Also. each time the cable 3| passes over log 29, a dog 32, similar to the dog shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings; is employed to secure the cable 3| to a log 29.

Where the modification of the invention shown in Fig.'10 of the drawings is employed, considerably less time will be employed in assembling the transverse connection of the logs of each section to the cable. In average weather conditions foundindeep sea towing, I have found that a raft made up in accordance with the modifications of the invention as shown in Fig. 10 will be sufiicient to withstand such weather conditions. However, in extreme weather conditions encountered in deep sea towing, the transverse connection shown especially so when rafts are towed over river bars. r

The tail section or brail preferably employs two pairs of cables 24 and 25 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Obviously two pairs of the cables 30 and 3| may be substituted for two pairs of cables 24 and 25.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and of the drawings, the connection between spaced apart side logs 23 in end to end relation is shown. The dog device which is used for connecting the cable to the log 23 is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This dog device comprises a thimble 34 having a centrally disposed opening 33. A U-shaped sleeve or choke 35 is provided with a cable opening 36 and an opening in each of the arms 31 thereof. A shank portion 38 passes through the openings in the arms 31 and the opening 33 in the thimble 34. This is done before the blade portion 40 is flattened and twisted. This shank portion 38 and head 39 are preferably tapered for reasons hereafter explained. The twisted blade portion 40 is adapted to be driven into a log by a driving impact on the tapered head 39.

The twisting of the screw threads of blade portion 49 has proven to be a matter of con.- siderable practical importance. It has been found that the strains encountered are of many tons in magnitude. If the pitch is too steep the dog will pull out and many logs may be lost. On the other hand, if the pitch is too shallow the blade 40 will not thread its Way into the wood by an impact on the tapered head 39. After considerable experimentation I have discovered that the angle desired is obtained by providing threequarters of a turn for every four inches in length. This will provide a dog which may be practically utilized in connection with the rafting and towing of logs.

For example, a dog made in accordance with the foregoing specification whichwas one inch in diameter and eight inches long was driven in five inches into a hemlock log. The pressure required to remove said dog by direct pull was determined as a twelve tonv pressure. At the same time the dog may be readily driven into place with a twelve pound sledge or readily removed when the raft is to be disassembled, as by a closed socket wrench with a handle thereon, such as a six foot handle.

The head 39 is tapered so that pounding will not interfere with engaging a wrench with the head portion. In other words, a wrench may be provided which will interfit with the lower part of the head portion 39, and even if the upper edges of the portion 39 flatten out or curl over, a wrench still may be passed over the upper portion and engage with the head portion 39. In View of the fact that a wrench having substantially a six foot handle is employed, it is obviously important to have firm engagement between the wrench and the head portion 39.

The shank portion 38 preferably tapers upwardly. After the shank portion 38 is embedded in a log, the fibers of the log will tend to return to their position and thus engage with the shank portion 33. lower portion of the shank 38 being of a greater diameter than the upper portion of said shank because of the taper. This itself will tend to hold the dog in the log.

The twisted blade portion 40 is preferably provided with a rib 4!, Referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the blade portion 46 is flattened and preferably the rib 4! is formed in said blade portion 40. The rib 4| tapers from the point and increases in thickness until it reaches the shank portion 38. This rib 4! provides the proper strength so that the dog may be driven into a log. In the larger size dogs I have found that a rib portion is necessary to provide the desired necessary strength.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the side logs 23 are positioned in spaced end to end relation. The spacing between the end portions of logs 23 is provided to provide the desired flexibility of the log raft. In other words, where two logs 23 are floating in the water, the logs may move so that the said adjacent end portions are both pointed upwardly. Such movement is often encountered when a tow is moved over a river bar. As the upper surfaces of the end portions of the log tend to move apart, the lower end portions of the log move together. If the space were short, the logs would engage in their lower edge portions and a wedging action would occur of tremendous pressure, tending to, and in most cases breaking the connecting means. However, if the space is provided between the adjacent end portions of the logs, the logs may move independently of each other without this prying action which would tend to break the connecting means.

On a suitable sized wire or cable t2 the dog device shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings is spliced. One end of the wire or cable 52 is spliced around the thimble 34. The thimble 3 2 provides a means for connecting one end of the cable 42 with the device and prevents excessive wear on the wire or cable 42. The cable 22 is then threaded around a log 23 and passes through the opening 36 in the choke 35. The log 23 is preferably provided with notches M on the upper edges of the log as it floats, so that the angular position of the cable 42 around the log 23 may be determined. Such notching of the log 23 may be readily accomplished and substantially no timber is lost, as the outside bark of the log and the closely adjacent sap portion, for the most part, is waste and must be removed at the mill in any event. The angular positions of the wire or cable 42, as respects the log 23, is preferably done in order to provide a substantially vertically directed strain on the cable and thereby avoid wear on the cable 42. The log 23 is provided with a vertically disposed notch '33 to snugly receive the sleeve or choke 35. Preferably the notch 63 is also angularly disposed in alignment with one of the notches M, as is shown particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. After the cable 42 is thus threaded around the log 23 and said cable is in the notches 4 the choke 35 is aligned with the notch 43 and the blade portion 48 of the dog is embedded in the log 23. The notch s3 is of sufficient depth so that the cable 32 will frictionally engage with the sides of the notch .3 provided in the log 23, see particularly Fig. 5. By friction-ally engaging the cable 42 with the log 23, I provide for an automatic tightener of the cable 32. This tightener provides a ratchet like action so that the cable 5 2 be loosely engaged in position and the strain developed by towing and wave action will tighten the cable $2 the desired amount and this tension will be maintained until the dog is removed. I not only provide for the automatic tightening of the cable :22 but I provide for elimination of wear on the cable .52.

In order to provide a fiat type raft for deep sea towing, all of the usual wire, cable and chain connections have been tried in an attempt to secure the side logs one to the other and to secure the end logs to the side logs. However, these attempts have positively failed to. provide a practical device. In the first place, if chains are; used, holes must be bored in: the logs. Such holes in timber logs has resulted in a loss which has commercially required that especially prepared boom sticks be used. In the next place, if holes were attempted to be bored through the timber logs, it would require chains of different lengths for logs of different diameter, as the side logs must be in correct spaced end to end relation. In the next place, if holes are bored in the logs and chains are threaded therethrough, the art has gone to chain wedges in an attempt to prevent movement ofthe chain as respects the logs, and to thereby caused by-a continually moving chain. These chain blocks or wedges which have been used cause considerable trouble, in that they readily become loosened. A considerable waste of labor is necessary in placing them in position and removing them after the tow is to be disassembled. Also many times it is a difficult task to remove the wedges or chain blocks to disassemble the tow. In the event that the chains are allowed to remain loose in the holes in the logs, wear will result. This wear makes boom sticks of relatively short life and often chains are released from the logs upon the hole wearing larger in the log.

In the next place, the size of the chains which may be used is positively limited by the weight thereof. It must be remembered that men are required to place the chains in position while the men are working about a log raft. If the chains are of such size to effectively resist the strains involved, they will be too large for the men to handle under the circumstances.

0n the other hand, where wire cables are emplayed, a very serious problem results in securing a cable to side logs, which are in end to end relation. The strains developed in towing will tend to loosen the cable as respects the side logs, and it is not possible for the men to provide the sufficient degree of tightness of the cable around the logs. In this connection it is not practical to provide machinery available to wrap and tighten the cables around the log, as.

this must be done at the site of the booming operation, which is generally removed from industrial locations.

In the next place, if the cables are not tight and movement occurs, this will provide frictional wear on the cable, with the result of breakage. Also if an initial tightness could be practically provided, still it must be remembered that the continuous movement would. tend to loosen the cable so that a device must be pro- 7 vided which will continually remove which may develop logs.

In my invention I provide a means for properly tightening a cable around the log and provide means for continually maintaining the proper degree of tightness of the cable during the towing of the boom. In my invention I employ the towed log itself as the means to resist the loosening of the cable. The wood surface of the log does not afford Wear on the cable and I have slackness during the'towing of the practically demonstrated that the connection of' the cable 42 to the log 23 is practical and permits the cable to be used for long periods of time without frictional wear developing on the cable 42. Furthermore, as the strain increases and the tightening therefor increases, a point is reached where there is no slack in the cable eliminate the wearing action.

other logs in the boom or raft.

. next adjacent log going around the log 23,,and there is no wear on-the cable. The tightened condition is maintained as the cable 42is wedged between the choke 35- and the walls of the notch 43.

Both ends of the cable 42 are connected to adjacent ends of spaced apart logs 23 in a similar manner. The connection between the head log 20 and an outside log 23 is shown somewhat in Fig. 4 and is similar to the connection just described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3- In a raft embodying my invention, all of the logs employed, including the head log and the outside logs are timber logs. All the logs in the tow are what may be termed pay logs and a useful service is being performed in using these logs as they are scaled'in and sold with the After the tow is brought to the mill or its place of destination, it is not necessary to return boomsticks and thus provide a useless return trip. The cables and dogs for making up the raft may be readily returned by truck or boator rail to the place where the raft is made up without requiring the expense of returning the same by a tug boat, as is required in towing back boomsticks and chains as has been customary. In operation I have found that the towing connection between the end portions of the outside logs in spaced end to end relation or between the head log and an outside log and between an outside log and the tail log, will stand pressures, strains and the up and down and sidewise movement encountered in deep sea towing. In deep sea or open ocean towing it must be remembered that tremendous pressures develop because of the fact that the logs may weigh many tons, and as the logs rise and fall, due to wave and wind action, tremendous pressures areinvolved and these pressures are exerted often in opposite directions on adjacent or nearby logs, due to one log going down on one side of a wave and the down on the other side of the same wave. The strains involved has heretofore eliminated as impractical all known connections for a flat raft, with the exception of the holes in the logs and the chains therethrough, but only then in reasonably sheltered waters. As long as holes through the logs and the chains therethrou'gh are required, the art has found it economical to use especially prepared boomsticks.

. Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred with said screw spike and threaded around said log and threaded under the cable choke snubbing surface and in contact with the walls of the recess, whereby the cable will be urged into frictional engagement with the log when the screw spike and choke are driven into operative posi tion relative to the log and recess therein and such frictional engagement will resist loosening of the cable.

2; In a log raft, a screw spike adapted to be removably secured to a log; a substantially U shaped cable choke provided with a cable opening extending transversely between the closed ends of the arms forming said U shaped cable choke and provided with means cooperating with said screw spike to secure the choke to a log; a log provided with a recess of a size to snugly receive said choke therein; and a cable having one end portion connected with said screw spike and threaded around said log and threaded through the cable opening of the choke and in contact with the walls of the recess, whereby the cable will be urged into frictional engagement with the log when the screw spike and choke are driven into operative position relative to the log and recess therein and such frictional engagement will 7 resist loosening of the cable.

3. In a log raft, a screw spike adapted to be removably secured to a log; a cable choke provided with a cable snubbing surface under which a cable may be positioned and provided with means cooperating with said screw spike to secure the choke to a log; a log provided with a recess of a size to snugly receive said choke therein and provided with grooves on the upper side portions thereof and extending diagonally thereof; and a cable having one 'end portion connected with said screw spike and threaded in said grooves and around said log and threaded under the cable choke snubbing surface and in contact with the walls of the recess, whereby the cable will be urged into frictional engagement with the log when the screw spike and choke are driven into operative position relative to the log and recess therein and such frictional engagement will resist loosening of the cable.

4. In a log raft, a plurality of longitudinally extending saw logs; other saw logs functioning as side logs and positioned in spaced apart end to end relation; and means securing said other saw logs in said spaced apart end to end relation comprising a cable extending between said logs, and a connection between said cable and the end portion of each log characterized as follows: a screw spike adapted to be removably secured to a log, a cable choke provided with a cable snubbing surface under which a cable may be positioned and provided with means cooperating with said screw spike to secure the choke to a log, a log provided with a recess of a size to snugly receive said choke therein, and a cable having one end portion connected with said screw spike and threaded around said log and threaded under the cable choke snubbing surface and in contact with the walls of the recess, whereby the cable will be urged into frictional engagement with the log when the screw spike and choke are driven into operative position relative to the log and recess therein and such frictional engagement will resist loosening of the cable.

5. In, a log raft, a plurality of longitudinally extending saw logs; other saw logs functioning as side logs and positioned in spaced apart end to end relation; and means securing said other saw logs in said spaced apart end to end relation comprising a cable extending between said logs, and a connection between said cable and the end portion of each log characterized as follows: a screw spike adapted to be removably secured to a log, a substantially U shaped cable choke provided with a cable opening extending transversely between the closed ends of the arms forming said U shaped cable choke and provided with means cooperating with said screw spike to secure the choke to a log; a log provided with a recess of a size to snugly receive said choke therein, and a cable having one end portion connected with said screw spike and threaded around said log and threaded through the cable opening of the choke and in contact with the walls of the recess, whereby the cable will be urged into frictional engagement with the log when the screw spike and choke are driven into operative position relative to the log and recess therein and such frictional engagement will resist loosening of the cable.

6. In a log raft, a plurality of longitudinally extending saw logs; other saw logs functioning as side logs and positioned in spaced apart end to end relation; and means securing said other saw logs in said spaced apart end to end relation comprising a cable extending between said logs, and a connection between said cable and the end portion of each log characterized as follows: a screw spike adapted to be removably secured to a log, a cable choke provided with a cable snubbing surface under which a cable may be positioned and provided with means 00- operating with said screw spike to secure the choke to a log; a log provided with a recess of a size to snugly receive said choke therein and provided with grooves on the upper side portions thereof and extending diagonally thereof, and a cable having one end portion connected with said screw spike and threaded insaid grooves and around said log and threaded under the cable choke snubbing surface and in contact with the walls of the recess, whereby the cable will be urged into frictional engagement with the log when the screw spike and choke are driven into operative position relative to the log and recess therein.

HILMER F. BERG. 

